The essay
In her commencement speech, Dr. Elena Ruiz uses many rhetorical devices to get her message across to the graduating nurses. She uses ethos, pathos, and a personal story. These devices help her connect with the audience and make her speech effective.
First, Ruiz uses ethos. She talks about when she was twenty-two and says she was wrong about most things. This builds her credibility because she is a doctor and has experience. The audience can tell she knows what she is talking about, which is an example of ethos.
Next, Ruiz uses pathos. She tells a story about a patient and a hard night at the hospital. This story makes the audience feel emotional. She describes the monitor and the family in the hallway. This is pathos because it makes you feel something.
Finally, Ruiz uses a personal story to connect with the graduates. She switches from saying 'I' to saying 'we' at the end. This shows that she is part of their group now. Her speech is effective because she uses all of these devices to reach her audience.